Last stop for petrol in Lumsden

Westbound Motors BP service station owner operators Neil and Maureen Taylor are packing up shop after nearly two decades at the helm of the Northern Southland hub.

Their departure, expected to be on March 31, raises questions about the future of the station which serves as a crucial refuelling spot to through traffic.

Mrs Taylor said it was her understanding that the lease for the land was also up and the landowners would negotiate with new tenants on what the set-up would be.

Should the pumps be closed for good, it would come as a blow to the Lumsden community and traffic through the area. The next closest petrol pumps were Mossburn to the west, Riversdale to the east, Centre Bush to the south and Kingston to the north.

BP New Zealand, which leases the land off local man Alfred John Robb, confirmed that they were in negotiations with the landowners but the outcome had yet to be determined. Communications manager Jonty Mills said the Lumsden station was an important part of BP's national network.